Automatic grain-cut-off holder



H; LEHR. AUTOMATIC GRAIN CUT-OFF HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.19, I920."

Patented Jai1. 3, 19 22;-

@Z BY ATTORNEYS WITNESS:

UITED SA HARRY M. LEHR, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC GEAIN-CUT-OFF HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.3,1922.

Application filed January 19, 1920. Serial No. 352,321.

had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel device for gripping and holding the gate-rods of grain cut-off gates in grain elevators and mills when it is desired to hold the gate open,

and for readily releasing the rod when it is desired to close the gate.

Heretofore it has been customary for the operator to hold the gate in raised position by lifting and holding the vertical gate rod in his hands until the desired amount of grain is delivered; or when larger quantities of grain were to be delivered, the operator would lift the gate by the rod and prop up the rod by some makeshift means. Both of these methods of operating the gate are raised position while the grain is passing through the spout; and when it is desired to close the gate a slightpressure of the foot upon the cam lever of thedevice releases the rod and the gate quickly closes by its own weight.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one practical device embodying the invention, and 'which is hereinafter described; and the novel construction and combination of parts for which I desire protection are set forth in the claims.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a detail diagrammatical section view showing my novel gate holding device in engagement with the vertical operating rod of the gate or cut-oil";

Fig. 2 is enlarged top plan view of the holding device. 7

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device-on the line 38, Fig. 2.

I Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4,

Fig. 5 is a front View of the device with the cam-head fully raised.

The gripping device comprises a base plate 1, having a longitudinalslot or opening 1* and provided on its upper side at one end of said slot with an integral upwardly extending U-shaped flan e 1 which partly surrounds that end of t e slot, and the ends of this flange merge'into enlarged lugs l at opposite sides of-the slot and at about the center of'the base; and through these lugs passes a the slot 1 I Pivotally mounted on bolt 2 within the slot 1 is a cam lever that has a cam-shaped head 3 on its end adjacent flange l the outer edge of which cam-head is adapted to engage the vertically disposed operating rod 4 of the grain cut-off or gate Gin the grain spout or chutes, Fig. l, and when so engaged will hold the gate in raised position, as indicated in Figs. 1-3.

The outer edge of this cam-shaped head 3 is preferably grooved or concaved as at 3 to increase the biting surface of the campivot bolt 2, that extends across to efiectively lock said rod in raised position'when the cut-off gate G is raised.

The end of the lever opposite head 3 is provided with an upstanding toe portion 3 which projects above the base 1 in position to be readily engaged by the foot of the operator. The position of the fulcrum 2 of lever 3, and the weight of the camhead 3, causes the cam-head to engage rod 4 by force of gravity, and'to remain in locked engagement therewith until the head is disengaged from the rod by pressure on' the other end 3 of the lever 3, which releases the cam-head from engagement with rod 4. And when the cam head once engages the rod 4: the weight of the rod and gate simply assist in causing the cam-head to more tightly clamp the rod in and against the bend of the flange 1".

The cam-head 3 is provided below the base with laterally projecting lugs 3 (see Figs. 3 i5), which are adapted to come into contact with the under side of the base plate 1 and prevent the cam head 3 being raised too far or thrown out of operative condition when pressure is applied to the end 3 V of the lever; and therefore the ca m-head 3 will always the in positionto engage the operating rod 4 of the gate as soon as the pressure on the end 3 of the lever isremovea The gate rod 4 passes through the slot 1 in plate 1 and between the curvedflange --and the grooved edge 3* or. cam'ahead 3, and when the came is engaged therewith,

as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rod i's'firmly clamped between the face of cam 3, and 'the flanged end of the slot. The flange l and lugs 1, strongly, reinforcethe base plate at the points where greatest strain is exerted thereon and enable it to readily withstand suchstrains wlthout breaking.v l

T he gate rod 4: usually has hand hold l" on its upper end, and in order to place the lockingdevice in operative position 1n relation to an already installed gate rod, the

bolt 2 can be taken out, the cam lever (lee tached from the plate, and the latter then slipped over the hand hold, which passes through slotll; then the cam lever can be replaced and secured by the bolt 2, and the base, plate fastened to the floor in proper position by screws or holtsas indicated in;

,the drawings. p

The cam-head 3 normally drops by gravity into position to engage and hold the rod 4 of the grain cutoff gate, and holds it firmly when the rodis raised until disengaged by pressure on the end 3 of the lever. The

evloeis simple and positive in operation and itenables the gate to be held securely. when wholly or partially raised and to be readily released when desired; I

a What I claim is: t p

1.. A graih cut-ofi gate holder, comprising a base plate having a longitudinal slot bearing lugs at opposite sides of said slot; a pivot bolt mounted in said lugs; alever mounted on said bolt having a [cam-shaped head on one end adapted to engage the gate operating rod which passes through the-slot vand pressure is applied to the end of the lever opposite'thecam head, substantially as described.

QIA holder for grain cutoffs, comprising a base'plate having a longitudinal slot a flange on the upper side of the plate SUI? rounding one "end of the slot; transversely disposed lugs rising from the upper face of theplate at opposite sides of the 'slot'; a bolt transfixing V said lugs, a lever pivotally mounted 'on said bolt and having an enlarged cam headon its end adjacent the flange, said cam head depending through the slot below-the base plate and providedbelow the base plate with means to limit theupward movement ofthefcamhead and assist the gravital actionv thereof; and the other end or said'lever beingadaptedto be engaged by the foot'of the operator to cause the camhead to disengage the gate rod 7 passinghetween the flanged end of the slot in the base'p'late and the curved face of'th'e camhead The herein "described holder ior grain cut-roll and the like, comprising a base plate having a longitudinal slot; a flange-on the upper side of the base plate surrounding one end of the slot; transversely'disposedlugs at opposite sides of the slot rising from the upper face ofthe plate at the ends or said 8 flange; a bolt transfixing said lugs, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said bolt and having an enlarged cam shaped head at the side adjacent the flange, the outer edge of this camhead being concaved; the said cam head depending through the slot below the base plate and provided onopposite sides below the base plate with laterally projecting lugs adapted to limit the upwardmovement of the cam head and assist the gravital action of the cam head; and the other end of said lever heing provided with" an upwardly projecting toe adaptedlto be'engaged by the foot of the operator to cause the'oam end to disengage a gate rod passing between the flanged end of the slot in the base plate and the curved faceol the cam head. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature.

r HARRY M. LEHR, 

